Infusion Unit

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an infusion unit comprising a bag part ( 21 ) which contains an infusion material, preferably tea leaves, and a handle ( 22 ) which is connected to the bag part ( 21 ). Said type of infusion unit can be improved in such a manner that it is suitable for preparing high-quality infusion drinks, in particular, for street vendors. According to the invention, the handle ( 22 ) is a plate-shaped element, made of, preferably, paper, cardboard or plastic, whereon the bag part ( 21 ) is directly secured such that it is seen in the direction of the elongate extension of the handle ( 22 ), and is arranged between opposite lying ends ( 23, 24 ) of the handle ( 22 ) such that the handle extends on both sides over the connection point of the handle ( 22 ) with the bag part ( 21 ) when the handle ( 22 ) and the bag part ( 21 ) are tilted against each other about 90°.

The invention relates to an infusion unit comprising a bag part thatcontains an infusion material, preferably tea leaves, and a handle thatis connected to the bag part.

Infusion units of this type are known, for example, in the form oftraditional tea bags. With traditional tea bags, finely shredded teamaterial is contained in a bag part. The bag part is sealed around itsentire periphery, and on the upper side of the bag part, a smallcardboard or paper tab is attached via a pull string as a handle piece.Tea bags of this type are widely used to prepare tea in individualportions and in pots. Usually, such tea bags are loaded with a fillquantity of 3.5 to 5.0 g, this fill quantity being suitable forpreparing one cup of tea using said tea bag. If, however, such a tea bagis used to prepare, for example, a mug of tea (compared with anapproximately 150 ml cup, a mug holds approximately 200 to 300 ml), thequantity of tea contained in the tea bag is insufficient.

Furthermore, the tea contained in traditional tea bags is finelycrushed, and its quality is usually far below that of a loose tea madefrom high-quality tea leaves.

Especially for “street vending”, it is necessary to prepare tea rapidly,so that bagged tea or tea bags are always used in these cases to preparetea.

Due to the disadvantages described above, however, the tea preparedusing tea bags of this type does not always satisfy the demands ofconsumers in terms of quality, so that street vendors are able to sellonly small numbers of tea beverages.

It is a goal of the applicant to make it possible for street vendors toalso offer high-quality tea beverages, which approach or are equal tothe quality of teas prepared at home or in good teahouses. In addition,it should be possible to prepare the tea rapidly, as is critical instreet vending.

Especially, it should be possible to use an infusion unit specified inthe invention in combination with disposable drinking cups equipped withlids.

The listed goals or the objects to be understood therein are achievedaccording to the invention with an infusion unit according to patentclaim 1. Advantageous further improvements on this infusion unit aredescribed in the dependent claims 2 through 9.

The infusion unit of the invention is characterized in that a plate-typeelement, preferably made of paper, cardboard or plastic, is fasteneddirectly to the bag part as a handle. The bag part is fastened to thehandle in such a way that it is arranged between opposite ends of thehandle, viewed in a direction along the elongate extension of thehandle, such that when the handle and the bag part are tilted about 90°in relation to one another, the handle projects on both sides beyond apoint at which the handle is connected to the bag part.

In the latter position, the bag part and the handle consequentlytogether form a “T” shape, wherein it is not imperative that the twosections of the cross member of the “T” be of equal lengths.

The infusion unit according to the invention is especially suited forholding loose, whole tea leaves, thereby creating the prerequisite forpreparing a high-quality tea. However, the infusion unit of theinvention is not limited to tea as the infusion material; in principleother infusion materials, such as bits of fruit, for example, or similarmaterials, can also be used. The arrangement of the bag part on thehandle, according to the invention, makes it possible to reliably usethe handle as a “stopper” when the bag part is hung inside a containerfor the purpose of preparing the infusion beverage, in that, forexample, the two projecting parts of the handle are placed on a rim ofthe container opening, or are inserted into a lid constructedspecifically for use in conjunction with the infusion unit of theinvention, in a manner to be described in greater detail with referenceto the exemplary embodiment.

The bag part can be made of a cellulose material or any other porousmaterial suitable for the preparation of infusion beverages, especiallynylon.

According to an advantageous further improvement (claim 2), the bag partis fastened to the handle eccentrically between the opposite ends,viewed along the elongate extension of said handle. In a further variant(claim 3), an arrangement is preferred that divides the handle in itselongate extension in a ratio of approximately 1 to 3. This type ofarrangement of the bag part on the handle is of particular advantageespecially with the preferred, provided combination of the infusion unitwith a lid for a disposable drinking cup specifically designed for thispurpose.

A further embodiment that is advantageous in this connection isspecified in claim 4. In this embodiment, the handle is essentiallyrectangular in its basic shape, wherein the end of the handle that liesmost distant from the point at which the handle is connected to the bagpart is rounded. This rounding of the end of the handle facilitatesinsertion of the same into a receptacle slit, or makes it possible toplace this end on a correspondingly shaped support surface for fasteningthe infusion unit in a “brewing position”.

An infusion unit configured as described in claim 5, in which a handlefor the bag part is created by folding over one end of the handle andgluing one end of the bag part between two surfaces of the handle, whichare situated one on top of another as a result of the folding, providesa particularly simple and stable construction of the infusion unit ofthe invention, especially the point at which the handle and the bag partare connected. Rather than gluing, the end of the bag part can also befastened in the fold of the handle in some other way, for example viastitching.

Another further improvement (claim 6) provides that the folded sectionof the handle forms a gripping section for grasping the infusion unit.This end is doubled as a result of folding, which also serves tostabilize it, forming a more stable gripping section than at the otherend of the handle.

Preferably, the handle is wider in a lateral dimension, measuredcrosswise to the direction of the elongate extension, than the bagsection fastened to it, and in this direction projects beyond the bagpart on both sides. This advantageous further improvement specified inclaim 7 makes it possible to position the handle on a support or guidesurface in the area in which the bag part lies. The bag unit isadvantageously a flat bag (claim 8). This flat bag is preferablyarranged with its elongate extension crosswise to the elongate extensionof the handle, and is fastened to the handle in this orientation.

Preferred dimensions of the infusion unit are specified in claim 9.According to this claim, the bag unit is approximately 100 mm-130 mmlong, and approximately 50 mm wide. The handle is approximately 80 mmlong and approximately 54 mm wide, with the first end that extendsbeyond the point at which the bag part is connected to the handle partbeing approximately 20 mm long and the second extending end beingapproximately 60 mm long.

Finally, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention (claim 10)provides that a fold extends in the direction of the elongate extensionof the handle, approximately centered over the entire length of thelatter. The advantage of this fold is that the infusion unit of theinvention can be used, for example, to brew an infusion beverage in amug, without the risk that the infusion unit placed in the mug will slipcompletely into the mug when liquid is poured over it. To accomplishthis, the handle of the infusion unit is pressed together slightly alongthe fold, so that, rather than the flat, planar shape, it isapproximately triangular in cross section. The longer section of thehandle then hangs over the rim of the mug. The angled shape allows thehandle to better fit the round outer edge of the mug, making it harderfor it to slip in.

Further advantages and characterizing features of the invention arerevealed in the following description of an exemplary embodiment, withreference to the attached set of figures. The figures show:

FIG. 1 a first exemplary embodiment of an infusion unit of theinvention, in a view from a first side,

FIG. 2 the infusion unit of the invention from FIG. 1, in a view fromthe side that is opposite the first side,

FIG. 3 a view of a bag part of an infusion unit of the invention,

FIG. 4 a view of a blank for the handle according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the infusion unit of the invention,

FIG. 5 a through 5 c a preferred use of the infusion unit of theinvention, in combination with a specially designed lid for a disposabledrinking cup,

FIG. 6 a representation of a second exemplary embodiment of an infusionunit according to the invention, comparable to that of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 a representation of the infusion unit shown in FIG. 6, comparableto that of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 8 a view of a blank for the handle according to the secondexemplary embodiment, comparable to that of FIG. 4.

In the figures, each of which schematically illustrates the describedexemplary embodiment, equivalent elements are designated by the samereference symbols. The representations in the figures do not serve tolimit the scope of the invention, nor does the following description ofthe exemplary embodiment; the scope of the invention is defined solelyby the patent claims. The following description of the exemplaryembodiments is intended solely for purposes of explanation and toimprove understanding of the invention.

In the figures, an infusion unit of the invention is generallydesignated by the numbers 20 or 120. The infusion unit is generallycomprised of a handle 22 or 122 and a bag part 21 in the form of a flatbag fastened directly to said handle. The bag part 21 is filled with aninfusion material, preferably loose tea leaves. The bag part 21 is madeof a nylon material. The bag part 21 is produced by cutting off asection of a tubular continuous band, closing one side of the bag part21 with a row of stitching 28, filling it with the infusion material andclosing the opposite end of the bag part 21 with another row ofstitching 29. The dots at the center section of the bag part 21 are usedto indicate that the nylon material is porous, to enable penetration ofthe same by an infusion liquid, for example hot water. In this manner itis ensured that the infusion material will come in contact with theinfusion liquid, allowing it to act on said material to create aninfusion beverage.

The handle 22 or 122 is made of a flat material, especially thincardboard.

In FIG. 4, a blank for a first exemplary embodiment of the handle 22 isshown. There it is apparent that a fold designated by the number 25extends crosswise to the handle 22, with grooves 26 and 27 beingprovided to each side of the fold 25. To attach the handle 22 to the bagpart 21, in the areas between the fold 25 and the grooves 26 and 27,adhesive is applied to an upper side of the blank for the handle 22. Acrosswise edge of one end of the bag part 21 is then placed on the fold25, and the blank is folded along the fold 25 and bent around the bagpart 21. In this manner, the bag part 21 is glued to the handle 22.

In FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of a handle 122 is shown. This alsohas a fold 125 that extends crosswise to the handle 122. This exemplaryembodiment lacks grooves that would correspond to the grooves 26 and 27represented in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4. Instead, thisembodiment has a fold 128 that extends in the lengthwise direction ofthe handle 122 (i.e. in the direction of its elongate extension). Thisfold extends perpendicular to the first fold 125 and lies approximatelyat the center of the handle 122, viewed across its width. The fold 128is also indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which an exemplary embodimentthat is equipped with the handle 122 shown in FIG. 8 (infusion unit 120)is illustrated. The fold 128 provides a more secure positioning of theinfusion unit of the invention when it is used for brewing an infusionbeverage in a mug or a similar container. In such cases the handle 122can be bent along the fold 128, and thereby “angled”. In this position,it can be better adjusted to fit the outer shape of a mug or similarcontainer, and, when hung over the rim of the mug to hold the bag part21, will tend not to slip into the mug or the other brewing containerwhen a brewing liquid is poured over the contents of the bag part 21.

The manner in which the bag part 21 is connected to the handle 122 issimilar to what was described above in reference to the exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Here again, by folding one end of thehandle 122 along the fold 125, an overlapping area is created, in whichone end of the bag part 21 is glued.

As is apparent, especially, from FIGS. 1 and 2 or 6 and 7, respectively,the handle 22 or 122 is wider than the bag part 21, wherein the bag part21 is arranged centered on the handle 22 or 122, so that an edge of thehandle 22 or 122 of approximately equal width projects on each side ofthe bag part 21. With this arrangement, in connecting the bag part 21 tothe handle 22 or 122, the two surfaces of the handle 22 or 122, at leastin the extended area of the handle 22 or 122, are glued directly to oneanother, which adds to the sturdiness of this attachment.

With the above-described connection between the bag part 21 and thehandle 22 or 122, the handle 22 or 122 forms a supporting section 24 or124 and a shorter gripping section 23 or 123, for two extending sectionsthat extend beyond the point at which the handle 22 or 122 is connectedto the bag part 21, the cardboard material of the handle 22 or 122 beingdoubled in said gripping section due to the folding along the fold 25 or125. The supporting section 24 or 124 has a rounded end, the backgroundof which will be described in greater detail in what follows.

The bag part 21 is not centered on the handle 22 or 122, i.e. thesection 23 or 123 and the supporting section 24 or 124 are of unequallengths. In the exemplary embodiments, the gripping section 23 or 123,measured up to the point of connection with the bag section 21, isapproximately 20 mm long, and the supporting section 24 or 124 has acorrespondingly measured length of approximately 60 mm. The point ofconnection between the bag part 21 and the handle 22 or 122 thereforedivides the latter in a ratio of approximately 1 to 3. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, the bag part 21 is approximately 50 mm wide, and thehandle is approximately 54 mm wide. With this, the overhang of thehandle 22, viewed in a crosswise direction, is approximately 2 mm toboth the right and the left of the bag part. The bag part isapproximately 110 mm long.

In FIG. 5 a through 5 c, a preferred use of the infusion unit of theinvention is illustrated in conjunction with a lid 1 for a disposabledrinking cup.

The lid 1 has a base plate 2, which during use is turned toward thedrinking cup, and a cover 3 arranged above the base plate 2. Betweenthis base plate 2 and the cover 3, and within a peripheral side panel 4,a receptacle space 5 is formed. Approximately at the center of the baseplate 2, an essentially rectangular opening 6 is provided, and in thecover 3 or between the cover 3 and the rim of the lid 1, a slit-typeopening 7 is provided in the area near the rim. This slit-type opening 7is covered by a tab 13 that is part of the cover 3. In the area oppositethe slit-type opening 7, the base plate 2 forms a support surface 10.

The infusion unit 20 or 120 of the invention is especially well suitedfor use in combination with this lid 1, to enable preparation of arelatively high-quality infusion beverage, especially tea, for fast-foodstreet vending. To accomplish this, first the infusion unit 20 or 120 ofthe invention is threaded into the lid 1. This is shown in FIGS. 5 a and5 b. With the gripping section 23 or 123, the infusion unit of theinvention is guided through the opening 6 in the base plate 2 of the lid1, so that the gripping section 3 [sic] passes through the slit-typeopening 7. The gripping section 23 or 123, and thereby the handle 22 or122, is then drawn far enough through the slit-type opening 7 that thesupporting section 24 or 124 can be pulled through the opening 6 intothe receptacle space 5 of the lid 1. The handle 22 or 122 is then tiltedand pushed back into the receptacle space until the supporting section24 or 124 of the handle 22 or 122 rests on the support surface 10.Because the entire lid 1 is circular in shape, and therefore the supportsurface 10 also has a partially circular outer contour, the supportingsection 24 or 124 has a rounded outer edge, as described above.

In the position shown in FIG. 5 b, when the lid 1 or the unit formed bythe lid 1 and the infusion unit 20 or 120 is placed on a drinking cupfilled with an infusion liquid, the infusion unit 20 or 120 of theinvention can reach into the infusion liquid, thereby acting to preparean infusion beverage.

After a predetermined period of infusion time, the bag part 21 of theinfusion unit 20 or 120 must be removed from the infusion liquid. Thiscan be accomplished in the combination of the infusion unit 20 or 120 ofthe invention represented in FIG. 5 c. When the infusion period hasended, the gripping section 23 or 123 of the handle 22 or 122 is graspedand pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 c. The bag part21 is thereby removed from the infusion liquid, and is pulled throughthe opening 6 into the receptacle space 5. With this, the bag part 21 iscompressed and “wrung out” as a result of pressure between the baseplate 2 and the supporting section 24 or 124 of the handle 22 or 122. Ifthe gripping section 23 or 123 or the handle 22 or 122 is pulled as faras it will go out of the slit-type opening 7, the bag part 21 of theinfusion unit 20 or 120 of the invention is almost completely held inthe receptacle space 5, in any case enough that it is no longer incontact with the infusion liquid in the drinking cup. In this manner,further influence of the bag part or the infusion material in the bagpart on the infusion liquid is prevented. If the bag part 21 containstea, the tea beverage prepared in the drinking cup is thereby preventedfrom becoming excessively bitter from brewing too long.

The infusion unit of the invention is not limited in its use to theinteraction with the lid 1 described in FIG. 5 a to 5 c, and can also beused without such a special lid to prepare infusion beverages inbeverage containers. The variants shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 areespecially suited for this.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Lid-   2 Base plate-   3 Cover-   4 Side panel-   5 Receptacle space-   6 Opening-   7 Opening-   10 Support surface-   13 Tab-   20; 120 Infusion unit-   21 Bag part-   22; 122 Handle-   23; 123 Gripping section-   24; 124 Supporting section-   25; 125 Fold-   26 Groove-   27 Groove-   28 Closure stitching-   29 Closure stitching-   128 Fold

1. Infusion unit with a bag part containing an infusion material,preferably tea leaves, and a handle attached to the bag part,characterized in that the handle is a plate-type element, preferablymade of paper, cardboard or plastic, to which the bag part is directlyfastened in such a way that, viewed in a direction of the elongateextension of the handle, it is situated between opposite ends of thehandle such that when the handle and the bag part are tilted about 90°from one another, the handle extends to both sides over a point at whichthe handle is connected to the bag part.
 2. Infusion unit according toclaim 1, wherein when viewed in the elongate extension of the handle,the bag part is fastened to the handle eccentrically between theopposite ends.
 3. Infusion unit according to claim 2, wherein the pointat which the handle is connected to the bag part divides the handle inthe direction of its elongate extension in a ratio of approximately 1:3.4. Infusion unit according to claim 2, wherein the handle has anessentially rectangular basic shape, wherein the end of the handle thatis farther from the point of connection of the handle to the bag part isrounded.
 5. Infusion unit according to claim 1 wherein the bag part isfastened to the handle by folding over one end of the handle and gluingone end of the bag part between two surfaces of the handle that aresituated one on top of another as a result of the folding.
 6. Infusionunit according to claim 5, wherein the folded over section of the handleforms a gripping section for grasping the infusion unit.
 7. Infusionunit according to claim 1, wherein the handle is wider, in a spanmeasured crosswise to the direction of the elongate extension, than thebag part fastened to it, and in this direction extends on both sidesbeyond the bag part.
 8. Infusion unit according to claim 1, wherein thebag part is a flat bag.
 9. Infusion unit according to claim 1, whereinthe bag part is approximately 100 mm-130 mm long and approximately 50 mmwide, and that the handle is approximately 80 mm long and approximately54 mm wide, wherein the first end that extends beyond the point ofconnection of the bag part to the gripping part is approximately 20 mmlong, and the second extending end is approximately 60 mm long. 10.Infusion unit according to claim 1, wherein a fold extends along thedirection of the elongate extension of the handle, approximatelycentered over its entire length.